Israel culture – The Real Jerusalem Streets

From Jerusalem Firgun, Fun and Food

July 17, 2019Sharon A

It started in Jerusalem, Israel, six years ago.

July 17th is International Firgun Day.

Everyone is invited to join from anywhere in the world, sharing the spirit of #Firgun

(Hebrew: פרגון) an act of kindness performed solely to make another person feel good.

How do you celebrate Firgun Day?

You come up with a firgun, a compliment, a kind word, a small pat on the back for someone (person, business or group) and post it on any social network, adding a photo or video and the hashtag #Firgun.

Or just say something nice to someone you know to pleasantly surprise them.

“Say Something Nice, Make Someone Happy”

Whoever thought up ‘Windows’ for the September Mekudeshet Festival is really clever.

This structure called ‘Windows’ has received attention since it went up last week in the center of Jerusalem. The house of windows is made out of 550 windows from all over Jerusalem, in a variety of shapes, and from various time periods.

The location is called Gan HaSus or HaSoos, Horse Park, well, because this horse is in this Jerusalem park.

The windows were collected and preserved for decades by the late Yoram Amir, an artist, photographer, activist, and lover of people and Jerusalem who recently passed away.

These posters tell the story of the exhibit in three languages. The Mekudeshet website promises that on every Wednesday from afternoon to dusk the place will be full of surprises.

‘Windows’ is set back from King George Street, and is located near the water fountains. These rescued windows are from condemned or abandoned buildings. Just before his death, Amir joined forces with Mekudeshet, the Jerusalem Municipality through Eden, the Jerusalem Center Development Company, and artists Itamar Faluja and Lili Peleg to construct a structure filled with majesty and presence. Amir’s final gift to the city that he loved. #Firgun

I missed an event at Beit Alliance on July 11 but liked this poster ‘Hebrew this is my Blood’ promoting the event.

Bogrim 2019 goes to the end of the month, with art and musical events for young people.

Front Stage performs at Ben Yehuda Mall this coming Friday afternoon. Last week hundreds of young people danced to live and loud pounding music on Friday afternoon. I am surprised I could only hear it on the municipality Facebook live feed.

Jerusalem street signs are up wishing children a pleasant summer holiday.

Summer for me means it’s time to sit and enjoy an iced coffee.

Food trucks are back in the Hinnon Valley near the Cinematheque on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights again this year.

Down dozens of stairs, people came to stand in line to buy sushi and three other food offerings. Every week there are to be four options, in addition to beer and wine trucks.

Under the full moon with live music, people sat at the few tables or on the ground. What a great view they had for the moon and its partial eclipse.

OK, just for this Jerusalem view I am glad I went to check it out.

OVERALL is this week at the Tower of David Museum. Fashion and more in twenty locations throughout the expanse of the Mamluk monumental complex.

Events at the Tower of David are always a photographer’s delight. #Firgun

This one called OVERALL has everything from making lapel pins to a Met Gala (like in NYC) exhibit to designing with a 3D pen and more.

Tower of David where the very old past meets the very modern future.

Tens of thousands, record-breaking, numbers of tourists, have come to Jerusalem this year.

93% of tourists said they were happy with their visit.

I hope they had time to enjoy what’s happening on the Jerusalem streets,

Jerusalem full of fun and food and #Firgun.

Beer Sheva: Old and New City

July 15, 2015rjstreets

So much in Jerusalem, Israel, is old and new.

We used to joke that a good friend is defined as

someone who leaves Jerusalem to visit you in Beer Sheva.

With family in Beer Sheva, over the years,

we have visited the desert city many times.

I used to say the only place that was green was this cemetery.

The Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery,

or the ANZAC cemetery, as most of the British soldiers

buried here were Australian and New Zealanders,

who fell in the World War I battles against the Turks,

ending the domination of the Ottoman Empire.

But things are changing,

Carasso Science Park opened in 2013,

and is the largest science park in Israel.

Remembering the British,

is Allenby Garden.

The park was established in early 1900s by the Turks,

After WWI, it became a memorial to General Edmund Allenby,

was destroyed during the Arab uprising in 1929,

and was finally rebuilt in 2014.

One day when it is not so hot,

it would be interesting to follow the ANZAC trail.

Across the road is the Negev Museum of Art,

the main art museum in southern Israel,

housed in what was the 20th century Governor’s house.

The current exhibit is called,

“Pulp and Fiction”

where all pieces are made out of paper.

“Lost Forest” by Jan Fairbairn-Edwards of France

and “The Burmese Story” by Naama Aaronson of Israel

are just two of the works.

Who knew that paper art was started 35 years ago

at the Beer Sheva Station of the old Turkish railway?

More of the old city and new

in the same area is the one mosque,

built by the Turks.

It went unused as a mosque for decades,

and was the city’s Archaeological Museum.

Since 2011, it has been home to the

Museum of Islamic and Near Eastern Cultures.

Ancient stones with Thuluth, Arabic and Kufic script

are in the courtyard.

Inside the restored mosque,

is the current exhibit of old prayer rugs,

with new glass lamps decorated in Arabic hanging above them.

A Turkish flag flies at the Train Yard Compound

which was restored and opened in 2014.

Bedouins are still around.

Going into and out of Beer Sheva

one can see the old and new,

with the new train track over the old Turkish one.

But it is at Be’er Avraham,

Abraham’s Well,

located near the Beer Sheva River,

that one can really appreciate the old and new.

An international visitor center,

showcasing the life of Avraham Avinu,

in a 3D presentation, opened in 2013.

In old days, to get to Beer Sheva,

it seemed it took as long as a camel trip,

standing on those Egged buses

on hot Friday afternoons.

With the new modern highways going to Beer Sheva,

it is not like it used to be,

see the Old City and new neighborhoods.

but we will have to find another way to define good friends.

Hebrew Book Week in Jerusalem Warning

June 10, 2013rjstreets

The sirens of the motorcade of

Juan Manuel Santos Calderon, President of Colombia

can be heard on the Jerusalem, Israel streets

and the flag of Colombia can be seen flying.

Most people will never notice.

But what is amazing is that after so many years,

and now with so many Israeli tech users and kindle readers,

Hebrew Book Week in Jerusalem is back in the Liberty Bell Park.

Thousands of books and at least one hot-pot are ready for

Shavuah Hasefer, the annual Hebrew book fair that runs from June 5-13.

There were fewer book vendors in the park this year.

But every night, many children

helped fill the park.

Everyone was out looking for a good deal on Hebrew books.

As every year, in the park there was also free entertainment for children.

This one young man was ready to get up and move to the music.

Passing on the love of books and reading is an old tradition.

But look past this book vendor and you will see

viewing stands being set up for

the Formula One Peace Car Run in Jerusalem.

Not sure everyone will appreciate the streets closing

and noise of what some want to be a new tradition.